Clemson University

FY12 Proposed Language /Programmatic Requests

Proposed Language Requests

Program title and agency: Wind Energy Program, Department of Energy, EERE

Report Language Request: The Committee urges the Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy to prioritize wind energy research and development funding to institutions

operating, located in, or associated with existing wind energy research centers where the opportunities for economic development around these centers are greatest. Further, the Committee urges that funding associated with offshore wind research and development be directed toward coastal wind energy research centers close to ports capable of supporting the offshore wind industry. The Committee also urges EERE to invest in the development of large grid simulators (15 MW) with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) capability to enable the testing of next generation wind turbines for grid compatibility and serve as a platform for testing and certifying new technology to support national smart grid and renewable energy development goals.

Program title and agency: RDT&E, Army, Line 30, PE 0603002A, Medical Advanced Technology

Recommended Adjustment: Provide $2 million for Reconstructive Surgery Modeling in RDT&E, Army, Line 30, PE 0603002A, Medical Advanced Technology

Program Description: Treatments for head and neck cancer, trauma (e.g. wartime injuries) and craniofacial defects affect bodily functions of speaking, swallowing, and chewing and result in severe facial disfigurements. Currently, sufficient evidence to support the functional significance of routinely applied rehabilitative treatments does not exist. Anecdotal and small cohort studies speak to the potential for improved patient function and quality of life. However, the empirical data for these is lacking. This lack of data is in large part related to the difficulty in structuring multidisciplinary testing, treatment, and research efforts. The core vision of Reconstructive Surgery Modeling is to develop autologous tissue and prosthetic reconstruction options for head and neck defect applications such as repair of battlefield injuries, head and neck cancer and craniofacial defects.

This program will use complementary skills sets that can be uniquely combined to produce innovative reconstructive options for head and neck application. The requested funds will develop research and clinical tissue development laboratories integrated through a virtual surgical planning site. Researchers will use 3D hard and soft tissue reconstruction models that will facilitate translation of reconstructive technologies to the clinical setting and will result in the radical improvement of facial appearance and function of defects in the head and neck region.

The U.S. Military must continue to advance medical procedures that heal our wounded soldiers. Funding will work towards addressing two critical areas of importance: (1) the development of novel approaches for tissue and prosthetic reconstruction in the head and neck region, and (2) the enhanced care of veterans with head and neck defects. Reconstructive Surgery Modeling requires $2 million in funding in order to reach these intended goals.

Point of Contact: Harvey Magee, Technical Director, Simulation & Training Technology Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), US Army Medical Research & Materiel Command, (301) 619-4002,

COL Ronald K.Poropatich, Deputy Director, U.S.Army Medical Research & Materiel Command (USAMRMC), (301) 619-7967,

Partner: Medical University of South Carolina

Program title and agnecy: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

Report Language Request: The Committee recognizes the importance of translational research

in understanding and preventing infectious diseases and urges the Institute to prioritize investment in programs which use animal models to better understand the genetics underlying hereditary and infectious diseases that also occur in the human in order to improve health and quality of life.

Program title and agency: RDT&E, Navy, Line 18, PE 0603236N, Warfighter Sustainment Advanced Technology

Recommended Adjustment: Provide $3.5 million for Naval Ship Hull Protection in RDT&E, Navy, Line 18, PE 0603236N, Warfighter Sustainment Advanced Technology

Program Description: Marine biofouling and corrosion are complex and highly-related degradative processes that annually cost hundreds of millions of dollars in wasted fuel, dry-dock repairs, ship downtime and premature material failures. Biofouling of optical sensors and other transducers on vessels also compromises performance, causing high frictional resistance, reduction in speed, and loss of maneuverability. As most marine coating systems in use today rely on a combination of active (toxic leachable copper) and passive protective coatings to provide a durable, well-adhered, impervious film on vessels, the negative ecological consequences are of serious concern.

New systems for the control of maritime biofouling (accumulation of organisms such as algae, bacteria, and barnacles on underwater equipment/surfaces) and corrosion that is very costly and detrimental to the U.S. Navy Maritime Fleet Operations will be developed. This program will combine marine cellular biology, optical and electron microscopic imaging with genomics with materials science and engineering approaches to the control of biofouling and corrosion. Funding is necessary to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed systems approach, including: a) the novel modification of steel surfaces under subcritical water conditions; b) the development of fouling deterrent surfaces using bio-intelligent molecules; c) characterization of biofouling and corrosion degradative mechanisms at the nanoscale; d) thin hydrophilic grafted gels as coatings; and e) modeling of thin film adhesion, fatigue and environmental stress cracking and enhancement of the current infrastructure needed to support the research.

The research and new instrumentation will significantly advance current Office of Naval Research coatings and biofouling research activities, thereby improving fleet readiness and reliability and reducing operational and maintenance costs for marine vessels. Requested funding will allow for the development of innovative technologies to enable the U.S. Navy to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency of future operations by utilizing safe, green and biological anti-corrosion and anti-fouling materials and coatings.

Point of Contact: Keith Lucas, Special Projects, Naval Research Laboratory, NRL Code 6104, Washington, DC 20375; phone: 202-404-2123 or (c) 202-251-8426.

Dr. Virginia DeGiorgi, Section Head, System Design and Integration Section, Naval Research Laboratory, NRL Code 6353; phone: 202-767-9027

Proposed Programmatic Requests:

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Program title: Smith-Lever Program

Agency and account: Department of Agriculture

Programmatic Request: $293,911,000 (retain FY11 funding)

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Program title: Hatch Act Program

Agency and account: Department of Agriculture

Programmatic Request: $236,334,000 (retain FY11 funding)

Program title: McIntire Stennis Cooperative Forestry Program

Agency and account: Department of Agriculture

Programmatic Request: $32,934,000 (retain FY11 funding)

Program title: Pell Grant Program

Agency and account: Department of Education, Student Financial Assistance

Programmatic Request: Maintain maximum student award at $5550 (retain FY11 funding)

Program title: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Agency and account: Department of Energy, EERE

Programmatic Request: $1,835,000,000 (retain FY11 funding)

Program title: Bioenergy programs within the USDA Office of Rural Development

Agency and account: Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development

Programmatic Request: $191,987,000 (retain FY11 funding for Rural Development Programs)